I like what I see from Nathan Beaulieu

MasterD

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Jul 1, 2004
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Personally from the few games I've seen him play I'm not overly excited about any part of his game, looks very hesitant as others have said, and his offence skills have not impressed me much yet, people use to say Subban 2.0, I don't see it yet. But he is 20yrs old and am more then willing to give him 2-3 years to reach his potential.
Exactly what I think. He looks hesitant, slow (although I've seen him skate fast before) and not involved in the play. He might turn it around eventually, but I'm not seeing like I could see it with Subban his first year.
 

Scintillating10

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Jun 15, 2012
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I really like what I see from Nathan Beaulieu and I think that at 17th overall he might become a steal even though Brandon Saad was taken way after him in the 2nd round and he was a player I was very high on going into the 2011 draft.

So...

We have Subban, Tinordi, Gorges, Emelin all under 30 and can play in the NHL, Beaulieu add's more size, skill, can move the puck, play on the 2nd PP one day.

A great defense core of the future with:

Subban - Tinordi
Bealieu - Emelin
Gorges - Thrower
Ellis - Dietz
Pateryn - Nygren

He looks a lot better in last couple of games. But he needs much more seasoning. Size, wheels are there...likely a Ron Hainsey type. He go as far as his hockey sense will take him. Remains to be seen how far that is?

Future #4 d-man, second powerplay pairing type. Him with Tinordi would make a good #4-5 for the Habs someday. If they sign Emelin trio make a great # 3-4-5 for Habs. With Gorges signed makes fanastic #3-6 d-men. Gorges is touch small and no offense at all but very smart hockey sense. Real good on penalty kill. Habs need to trade for #2 NHL defenseman in near future as Markov is 35 with bad knees.
 

Spearmint Rhino

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Sep 17, 2013
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People forget PKs rookie year

Benched and scratched at times, made lots of mistakes - some very costly - but without Markov and no other prospects there was really no other option but to play him and live with it, didn't hurt his development by the looks of it

If Beaulieu can keep Gorges & Boullion off the PP I'm happy to keep him around but pair him with Gorges not Cube
 

Rock On

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I'm not sold on Beaulieu yet, he shows great flashes but time will tell. He's very raw IMO. Also, as many others said sooner, stop comparing him to PK : Beaulieu ceiling is lower than 2013 PK and Subban may get (I know, it's scary) even better than now.

I think his ceiling is solid # 2 from what I've seen so far. He'll never be a D-zone beast but his physical side may help him in that area. For the offense, he and Subban will probably be our 1st PP duo for many years, starting when Markov will leave (I hope not) or slide to the second wave.
 

RC51

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Dec 10, 2005
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Beaulieu and Tinordi need to stay with the Habs.
nothing is more important then to learn thier lessons at NHL speed. Yes you need to make the right moves but you need to do it at NHL speed. Once you have linked the two together only ice time is needed. If you want the best out of both these guys entering the playoffs you need to let them go and progress. They also learn for the coaches and ALSO the other dmen ( Markov). Everyone must remember that dmen finally hit their best at about 25-35 years old. So what you see right now is NOT what you will get in a few years. Both Tinordi and Beaulieu have learned about as much as they can in the AHL, they need time in the NHL now.
I agree with those that point to PK and his first year and two years later WOW a Norris winner. Get the point? If you can get a guy like Pateryn to go from a nobody in the ahl to a near NHL dmen imagine what Beaulieu and Tinordi will end up as in 2 years.
 

Monctonscout

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Jan 26, 2008
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I'm not sold on Beaulieu yet, he shows great flashes but time will tell. He's very raw IMO. Also, as many others said sooner, stop comparing him to PK : Beaulieu ceiling is lower than 2013 PK and Subban may get (I know, it's scary) even better than now.

I think his ceiling is solid # 2 from what I've seen so far. He'll never be a D-zone beast but his physical side may help him in that area. For the offense, he and Subban will probably be our 1st PP duo for many years, starting when Markov will leave (I hope not) or slide to the second wave.

I think Beaulieu's ceiling is as high as Subban...but he may take longer to reach it. His defense and 1 on 1 play hasn't come as fast as PK, in part because he isn't as physically mature, PK is shoter but was over 200lbs at 20-21 years of age.

In terms of hockey sense and reading the play Beaulieu is ahead of PK, he does things I have only seen Markov do in terms of anticipating opponent passes/plays and his own teammates' movements.
 

LeMAD

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Not to bash Beaulieu, but he is miles behind Subban at the same age.

Subban made some mistakes, but he was already showing signs he would become a dominant player.

Beaulieu certainly has the size and speed to play in this league, but the jury is still out about his hockey IQ (both offensively and defensively) and compete level.

And I don't see Beaulieu ever becoming a legit #1 dman. If he develops his game, a #3 would be possible for sure.

I see him becoming something similiar to Tom Poti.
 
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KingRoy33

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Sep 7, 2010
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I think when Murray is healthy again MB should really look at moving Diaz to make room for Tinordi and Beaulieu to stay with the team. Both deserve to stay and I think Diaz is a good asset to trade. Maybe package him with DD and get something decent in return.
 

Monctonscout

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Jan 26, 2008
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Not to bash Beaulieu, but he is miles behind Subban at the same age.

Subban made some mistakes, but he was already showing signs he would become a dominant player.

Beaulieu certainly has the size and speed to play in this league, but the jury is still out about his hockey IQ (both offensively and defensively) and compete level.

Not sure where you get the questions about his hockey IQ, that and his skating are the strongest parts of his game. He sees everybody on the ice and reads the play very well. Even in limited ice time he's shown a knack for finding open ice and breaking up plays.

The big difference from when Subban arrived is that there are guys in front of Beaulieu playing the big minutes, running the PP and moving the puck, when Subban arrived Markov was hurt and there was a huge void to fill.
 

Rock On

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I think Beaulieu's ceiling is as high as Subban...but he may take longer to reach it. His defense and 1 on 1 play hasn't come as fast as PK, in part because he isn't as physically mature, PK is shoter but was over 200lbs at 20-21 years of age.

In terms of hockey sense and reading the play Beaulieu is ahead of PK, he does things I have only seen Markov do in terms of anticipating opponent passes/plays and his own teammates' movements.

PK ceiling is Generational Talent. Beaulieu will never reach that or even be a Norris candidate. Ever.

But again he may become a very solid # 2. We're lucky to have both.
 

Gally11

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Sep 20, 2010
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PK ceiling is Generational Talent. Beaulieu will never reach that or even be a Norris candidate. Ever.

But again he may become a very solid # 2. We're lucky to have both.

Beaulieu's ceiling is a very good #1.. But I agree not a generational talent. He would just be #2 on this team because of Subban. (if he reaches potential)
 

Tuggy

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I'm not sure about #1 defenseman but Beaulieu definitely has top 2 potential. He has all the tools IMO and hopefully for our sake he'll put it all together.

There will be struggles, like with every young defenseman, so hopefully the fans will be forgiving.
 

Redux91

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Sep 5, 2006
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PK ceiling is Generational Talent. Beaulieu will never reach that or even be a Norris candidate. Ever.

But again he may become a very solid # 2. We're lucky to have both.

lol take it easy, jesus...

people werent calling pk a future norris candidate 3 years ago either, but comparing these 2 players is ridiculous anyways

who the hell will complain if beaulieu becomes a good number 2 or 3, we should BE so lucky, not be pissed hes not as good as PK
 

Spearmint Rhino

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Sep 17, 2013
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I like PK but after back to back high 30 pt seasons anyone that predicted him to be a generational talent prior to last season's breakout year is lying or has been in the Delorean with Doc Brown recently

Subban has 4 years on Beaulieu so let's see what Nathan looks like in 2-3 years before we start topping out his ceiling - the kids was ranked almost top 10 while PK was in the 2nd round so at least in their draft years the so-called experts would've pegged Nathan with the higher ceiling - yes that doesn't mean a lot but in 2 years since his draft Beaulieu has done nothing to diminish his value except joining his old man in a scrap
 

yianik

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Jun 30, 2009
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Ideally he develops into an Eric Desjardins, a guy who can carry the puck up ice and generate offense, say 40-45 points, but also be solid in his own end, so a 2 way guy. Offensively I could certainly see him do that, the question is how good will he get defensively and only time will tell here, but his speed is an asset there as well. Love the size and his willingness to be physical. We really need to do a great job developing him because if he becomes that Desjardins type of player our D could be great. If he doesn't, then I think we will be lacking the 2 high quality D-men contenders usually have and we will have to pull a significant trade.
 

xposbrad

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Jul 11, 2009
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Not sure if the OP really is serious or not, but what has he done exactly to say you like what you see? He's been mediocre on D and hasn't really shown he belongs at the nhl level yet. Granted it's been a small sample of games, but we have to stop with the "I like X prospect after like 5 games especially when he hasn't even done anything'.

Yes, we have the best prospects in the nhl, and we are going to win 3-4 cups this year alone. We get it.
 

Markowicz

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Feb 27, 2009
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Beaulieu and Tinordi need to stay with the Habs.
nothing is more important then to learn thier lessons at NHL speed. Yes you need to make the right moves but you need to do it at NHL speed. Once you have linked the two together only ice time is needed. If you want the best out of both these guys entering the playoffs you need to let them go and progress. They also learn for the coaches and ALSO the other dmen ( Markov). Everyone must remember that dmen finally hit their best at about 25-35 years old. So what you see right now is NOT what you will get in a few years. Both Tinordi and Beaulieu have learned about as much as they can in the AHL, they need time in the NHL now.
I agree with those that point to PK and his first year and two years later WOW a Norris winner. Get the point? If you can get a guy like Pateryn to go from a nobody in the ahl to a near NHL dmen imagine what Beaulieu and Tinordi will end up as in 2 years.

Well at least there is one other person on here that agrees with me.
 

le_sean

Registered User
Oct 21, 2006
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I'd say the best is to keep doing what they are doing by shuffling both Tinordi and Beaulieu in and out of the lineup. This way they can understand the pace of the NHL game, they can take turns watching from the pressbox to learn, as well as video room time. They both have the talent, it's just learning from here on out.
 

sventington

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Sep 18, 2013
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I look forward to seeing what he can do as a forward. It'll be interesting seeing him and Bournival play together. Should be a decent amount of speed. Hopefully White can keep up!
 

Saundies

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Jun 8, 2012
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We gotta be as patient or more so with Beaulieu than we were with PK. It's funny to see everybody on here now say how "obvious" it as that PK was going to be a "generational talent" when the same people last year were comparing him to Michael Del Zotto and saying calling him a selfish player for holding out.

Beaulieu, to me, seems like the type of guy where it takes him a bit to figure things out but once he does, he turns dynamite. It was the same thing for him when he first started out in the Q, and last year in the AHL. Starts off pretty shaky, but he's very quick at adapting and finding his game in order to be successful. I think the NHL will be no different, he just needs a full year. I don't think this season will be it, but maybe once a couple of D are unloaded off the payroll for next year he'll have that chance to play more and really show his worth.

Not all players are Jonas Brodin or Jacob Trouba who can jump in at 19 years old and play a steady game. Some do, but then fall off (See Tyler Myers). It's about consistency, and if NB can struggle now and be consistent/dynamite later on I'm all for being patient. Plus I don't think he looks that bad out there right now anyway.
 

yianik

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Jun 30, 2009
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We gotta be as patient or more so with Beaulieu than we were with PK. It's funny to see everybody on here now say how "obvious" it as that PK was going to be a "generational talent" when the same people last year were comparing him to Michael Del Zotto and saying calling him a selfish player for holding out.

Beaulieu, to me, seems like the type of guy where it takes him a bit to figure things out but once he does, he turns dynamite. It was the same thing for him when he first started out in the Q, and last year in the AHL. Starts off pretty shaky, but he's very quick at adapting and finding his game in order to be successful. I think the NHL will be no different, he just needs a full year. I don't think this season will be it, but maybe once a couple of D are unloaded off the payroll for next year he'll have that chance to play more and really show his worth.

Not all players are Jonas Brodin or Jacob Trouba who can jump in at 19 years old and play a steady game. Some do, but then fall off (See Tyler Myers). It's about consistency, and if NB can struggle now and be consistent/dynamite later on I'm all for being patient. Plus I don't think he looks that bad out there right now anyway.

Really good thing about MT is his patience with the young guys and doing his best to tailor their playing time and playing situations to where they are more likely to be successful. For whatever faults MT might have, he is certainly the right guy for bringing along all this youth we have.
 

Saundies

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Jun 8, 2012
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Really good thing about MT is his patience with the young guys and doing his best to tailor their playing time and playing situations to where they are more likely to be successful. For whatever faults MT might have, he is certainly the right guy for bringing along all this youth we have.
I agree. Although I don't understand some of MT's ice time decisions, he does give the kids a chance which is great to see, especially after watching Jacques Martin coach.
 

Monctonscout

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Jan 26, 2008
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Ideally he develops into an Eric Desjardins, a guy who can carry the puck up ice and generate offense, say 40-45 points, but also be solid in his own end, so a 2 way guy. Offensively I could certainly see him do that, the question is how good will he get defensively and only time will tell here, but his speed is an asset there as well. Love the size and his willingness to be physical. We really need to do a great job developing him because if he becomes that Desjardins type of player our D could be great. If he doesn't, then I think we will be lacking the 2 high quality D-men contenders usually have and we will have to pull a significant trade.

I think he has more upside than Desjardins, he could become as good defensively but it will take time. He has size, mobility and hockey sense, those are huge in being a good defensive player. I think he can be as good as he wants at both ends of the ice. It might take 6-7 years but at some point he could be as good or better than PK is now. Not saying it WILL happen but he has the tools for it if he maxes them out.

Not sure if the OP really is serious or not, but what has he done exactly to say you like what you see? He's been mediocre on D and hasn't really shown he belongs at the nhl level yet. Granted it's been a small sample of games, but we have to stop with the "I like X prospect after like 5 games especially when he hasn't even done anything'.

Yes, we have the best prospects in the nhl, and we are going to win 3-4 cups this year alone. We get it.

He's shown dynamic skating ability along with top notch hockey sense. Those are a big part of being a frontline d-man. Obviously he won't be an all star this year or next but with time and patience he could be very very good.

We gotta be as patient or more so with Beaulieu than we were with PK. It's funny to see everybody on here now say how "obvious" it as that PK was going to be a "generational talent" when the same people last year were comparing him to Michael Del Zotto and saying calling him a selfish player for holding out.

Beaulieu, to me, seems like the type of guy where it takes him a bit to figure things out but once he does, he turns dynamite. It was the same thing for him when he first started out in the Q, and last year in the AHL. Starts off pretty shaky, but he's very quick at adapting and finding his game in order to be successful. I think the NHL will be no different, he just needs a full year. I don't think this season will be it, but maybe once a couple of D are unloaded off the payroll for next year he'll have that chance to play more and really show his worth.

Not all players are Jonas Brodin or Jacob Trouba who can jump in at 19 years old and play a steady game. Some do, but then fall off (See Tyler Myers). It's about consistency, and if NB can struggle now and be consistent/dynamite later on I'm all for being patient. Plus I don't think he looks that bad out there right now anyway.

I agree. People say you can't compare NB with PK, well compare them at the same age. At this age PK had not yet played a single NHL game. Guys like Markov and Datsyuk only started as NHL regulars at 22 and 23 and became all stars. Others made it even later...
 

Runner77

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Hockey Prospectus' take on Beaulieu:

The Good: Beaulieu is a very gifted player with a lot of offensive tools. He is a high-end skater and puck handler who can create a lot of offense individually. He has the speed to burn players on the rush, and the four-way mobility to stay with even the fastest forwards. Beaulieu can flash very good vision as well, which makes him dangerous on the power play and when he is on the rush with numbers.

The Bad: Beaulieu's defensive game has improved, as he can show some good moments in his own end, but he remains inconsistent in that regard. His decision making and reads continue to be his biggest issue, as he plays a high-risk game. His off-ice incident is also an obvious knock on him.

Projection: He could be a top pairing defenseman, but he has a fair amount of risk on his projection.

Reflects what a lot of posters here have stated. He has the tools and age is on his side, however, it's a risky proposition to believe that he's going to achieve his full potential. He needs to be more than an offensive specialist -- I'd rather see him play with Hamilton for as long as it takes, even 3-4 years, unless it becomes evident that his decision-making skills show no sign of tangible improvement.
 

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